protection plan question

[ALFGold]

After poking around at Best Buy and Sprint, found out they both offer protection plan.

While Sprint covers everything for $8/mo, Best Buy charges $9/mo without including theft or loss.

I do prefer the instant rebate by Best Buy over Sprint's mail-in rebate. But I also hate dropping the phone and cracking the screen and make it useless.

What do you guys think.
And do you guys prefer a plan with theft protection also?

 

[Bernal]

I buy BestBuy service plans regularly, but in this case the Sprint Total Equipment Protection plan ($7 per month) looks like a better option. Here's a link to the Sprint web page with the info on the plan:

http://www.nextel.com/en/services/service_repair/phone_protection_services.shtml?id16=services_phonerepairprotect_phoneprotectionsol_hub

The downside with the Sprint plan is that there is a $50/$100 deductible (I'm not yet sure which amount applies in this case.)

BestBuy's option (Geek Squad Black Tie Protection) does cover a battery replacement and has no deductible, but the repair (or possible replacement) is likely to take 3-4 weeks and you may need to put down a $150 deposit on a loaner. Now, you can supply your own old Sprint phone if you have one, but it's still be nearly a month before you'd get your Hero back.

I'm not too impressed with the battery replacement. Replacement batteries are pretty cheap on eBay.

Now, I would also only pay for the plan for the first 12 months. At that point you'll be eligible for either $75 or $150 towards a new phone. So during the second year, if I do in fact need to replace the phone, I'd just do it by buying a new phone with my upgrade credit.

If you have an old phone and don't mind the 3-4 week wait for service and you expect to take advantage of the battery replacement, then not having to worry about a deductible may make the BestBuy plan a better option.

The theft/water damage coverage of the Total Equipment Protection even with the deductible, makes it the plan for me.

 

[nekon]

Personally I don't really like either plan.. If I had to choose one I'd stick with BB for my cellular insurance. I'm not going to correct everything in the previous posts but I suggest you both do further research before making a decision. In short the BB plan has no deductible but takes an estimated 2 weeks for turnaround. Now Sprint TEP has a new $100 deductible for any phone worth owning however turnaround time will be much quicker.

I currently have a TP and plan on taking it into BB when the TP2 becomes available. I still have an old Samsung A900 so I'll be patiently be patiently waiting to see if I get a TP2 as a replacement or a repaired TP. Either way I'll be happy and will end up with either a TP2 or a HERO.

 

[ChrisPlague]

After poking around at Best Buy and Sprint, found out they both offer protection plan.

While Sprint covers everything for $8/mo, Best Buy charges $9/mo without including theft or loss.

I do prefer the instant rebate by Best Buy over Sprint's mail-in rebate. But I also hate dropping the phone and cracking the screen and make it useless.

What do you guys think.
And do you guys prefer a plan with theft protection also?

TEP from sprint is 7 a month not 8

oh and the deductible will be 100

 

[SDscorch]

i've got a question

if you buy it at BB, can you get the biggest-baddest insurance plan at sprint??

 

[Edaze55]

i've got a question

if you buy it at BB, can you get the biggest-baddest insurance plan at sprint??

Im buying mine from BB and plan on using TEP from Sprint. I know of several Sprint stores I could go to to have my phone fixed if it ever broke.

Nekon I could never be without a phone for 2 weeks.

 

[ChrisPlague]

i've got a question

if you buy it at BB, can you get the biggest-baddest insurance plan at sprint??

You have up to 30 days to add insurance on a new device.

 

[TattierPub]

I can tell you Sprint's TEP has saved my butt several times. Also the ability to take into a local store that does repairs is great, you either walk out with either a new phone or a refurb depending on what they have in stock and your attitude. Bad attitude = having to wait for a refurb to be sent.

I got my Tour because of problems with my Curve. After the 4th bad refurb Sprint sent to the local repair center, dude there saw all my problems and gave me a new Tour.

 

[SDscorch]

oh yeah

i'm probably on my fourth 755p right now (i don't even bother to try to count) - and i've probably used the insurance service eight times total since i've been with sprint

i've never "not had" insurance

 

[Edaze55]

I can tell you Sprint's TEP has saved my butt several times. Also the ability to take into a local store that does repairs is great, you either walk out with either a new phone or a refurb depending on what they have in stock and your attitude. Bad attitude = having to wait for a refurb to be sent.

I got my Tour because of problems with my Curve. After the 4th bad refurb Sprint sent to the local repair center, dude there saw all my problems and gave me a new Tour.

My Razr (yes, I know its a POS, dont laugh) last year started acting a bit on the wierd side. I first noticed it when I was trying to send a text out. It was as if the keypad had slipped or something of that nature. Well that, and it did try calling a few people on its own.

Took it to a Sprint repair center they took a look at it and walked out with a new phone. All they asked me was if I had insurance. Didnt cost me a thing, other than the standard monthly fees of course.

 

[Namek]

Get the Sprint insurance. It saved my GF several times. If they can't fix it they'll either hand you a replacement or if its not in stock they'll order a replacement. The only time you need to pay a deductible is for water damage, physical damage, cracked screen, lost etc...